Protect Health Care for All

Ensuring access to affordable, quality health care is the very definition of a public good—a service that can’t be adequately provided by private interests but that is necessary to benefit everyone.

Oppose any legislation that cuts Medicaid. Do not put caps on the program or roll back the Medicaid expansion.

Medicaid enables one in five Americans to access quality, affordable health care.

The Medicaid expansion has enabled 11 million low-income Americans in 32 states to gain health coverage.

Capping federal funding for Medicaid would increase the burden on states, forcing states to cut services, eligibility, and/or provider payments.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that by ending the Medicaid expansion and capping the program, the House-passed American Health Care Act would cause 14 million people to lose Medicaid coverage.

Repealing the Medicaid expansion and capping the program would severely restrict states' ability to respond to the opioid crisis. Medicaid and CHIP cover a third of people with opioid addictions, and Medicaid pays for a variety of treatment services.

Address the persistent racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes.

Top Two Dangerous Proposals to Cut Medicaid

The proposals currently being debated in Congress have serious flaws that would risk the health of millions of Americans.

Medicaid Per Capita Cap: This proposal caps federal funding and turns the funds over to the states. The Medicaid program already has enormous flexibility, and a cap on Medicaid would reduce federal resources for Medicaid significantly over time, shifting costs to states and individuals. Without adequate funding, states would end up reducing benefits or siphon off money from other priorities. People would face rationed care, weaker benefits, and loss of coverage, especially when health crises like the opioid epidemic drive up health care usage and costs. No formula or indexing calculation solves this problem. Block grants and per capita caps also provide less accountability for how the money is used.

Rolling Back the Medicaid Expansion: Under the Affordable Care Act, 32 states (including DC) have opted into the Medicaid expansion, enabling individuals under 138% of the poverty line to get coverage. The federal government contributes no less than 90% of the cost, making it a cost-effective way for states to expand coverage. Because of the Medicaid expansion, 11 million low-income Americans now have quality health coverage. Many members of Congress want to end the Medicaid expansion, threatening health care access for millions of low-income Americans.

The health of tens of millions of people is at stake. Families throughout the U.S. are counting on Congress to ensure that any health care legislation assures them adequate and affordable coverage. Cutting Medicaid would instead cost millions their insurance. Congress work to protect Medicaid and the Medicaid expansion.